Homosexuality and the Church of Jesus Christ [Hardcover]

A. Dean Byrd (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 110 pages
• Publisher: Cedar Fort (January 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555175554
• ISBN-13: 978-1555175559
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,322,723 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Talk to Gay and Lesbian LDS (of various walks) before making judgements, January 23, 2007

By 

Benjamin S. Clark - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Homosexuality and the Church of Jesus Christ (Hardcover)

Benjamin S. Clark

This comment is based on a response I made to a customer's review below. I love how glibly and gallantly many would be authorities on homosexuality (especially LDS) think they can judge this issue as though it were "no different than any other problem." Why don't LDS people who have any question at all go and talk to gay or lesbian people who are LDS or have been excommunicated and listen to their personal stories instead of self-righteously making a determination based on Dean Byrd's rhetoric as though it were scripture? These ex-gay organizations (including Evergreen and NARTH) continually cherry pick the evidence (including misquoting authorities to fit the Evergreen agenda) in order to back up their own self-righteous pharisaical views on this issue. They ignore the mental and emotional damage that is being done to severely conflicted gay and lesbian Latter-day Saints. Gay LDS people are too often left feeling that they cannot trust themselves and become very dependent on people like Dean Byrd and organizations like Evergreen and NARTH. I used to be involved with Evergreen and found that the majority of those involved are very conflicted, sometimes suicidal, on anti-depressants and often depend upon the group for their self-esteem. Gay leaders in the group often find their self-esteem through their zeal, intellect and ability to attract the less confident members who think they are "spiritual giants", etc. when the reality is that these leaders who are "strugglers" are just as conflicted as anyone who tries to convince himself that he cannot be who he is. Ex-gay organizations tend to look at the increasingly healthy gay community with disdain as though it were evil perjoratively using words like "gay activists" or "people in the gay lifestyle". These statements are bigoted and create division and show forth an ever increasing contrast between groups like Evergreen, NARTH and the real world. Also various authorities outside of the NARTH and Ex-gay world have been quoted by Dean Byrd and others to support their ex-gay agenda, however, these authorities (being made aware of this) have called them on the carpet for this irresponsible and reprehensible behavior. There are various watchdog groups online, etc. that are doing all in their power to expose the hypocrisy and the propaganda that is coming out of much of ex-gay organizations which includes groups like the Evangelical based Exodus International, etc.. [...] for the other side of the story.

Until gay and lesbian Latter-day Saints start depending upon their own self-determination and their personal relationship with God directly (trusting their own relationship with Father in Heaven) they will all too often stay dependent on organizations like Evergreen and have a tough time differentiating between the voice of God and the opinions of people like Dean Byrd. I have learned far more about scriptural interpretations about topics like Sodam and Gommorah (for instance) from reading Hugh Nibley's Approaching Zion than from Dean Byrd's anachronistic Medieval interpretation. Also I have found far more love and truth in Carol Lynn Pearson's new book entitled No More Goodbys: Circling the Wagons Around Our Gay Loved Ones than from anything I have read by Dean Byrd's legalistic and dogmatic approach. Not all local Church leaders approach this issue in the same way. Those leaders (i.e. local leaders) who educate themselves about it through listening to people's personal stories and really listening and reading up on it from a variety of sources have been the leaders who are typically the most compassionate and understanding.

The prophet President Hinckley was the only one I have heard as of late who said the most wise thing on the issue of any of the brethren. He said on Larry King Live that he is not an expert on the issue and that he cannot pretend to be an expert on it. So does that mean Dean Byrd is? Don't you think that the prophet (if Dean Byrd is correct) would have read up on such an extremely important issue and agreed with him if Dean Byrd is the authority on these issues? I think that the prophet knows a lot more than Dean Byrd knows and is far more trustworthy because he is very humble and that humility is a powerful testimony of the prophets' calling.

You know that the Church has long taught (in the missionary program) that you need to go to the source for truth. Joseph Smith went directly to God for the truth he was looking for and found the answers. Do you ask the Baptists or Presbyterians about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or do you go to a Latter-day Saint (and the basic books describing the gospel including the scriptures)? The same thing holds true of a person who has "same sex attraction" or in otherwords is gay. Go and talk to that person, preferably go and talk to 3 or 4 and ask them about what their experience has been like. Talk to gay people who might happen to be in a stable partnership/relationship and ask them about their experience. Talk to a gay person who is LDS and very self affirming of their orientation and who has chosen celibacy and ask them about their experience. The contrast between authentic Godlike unconditional love (the love the Savior exemplified) and cold know it all legalism is tremendous. I disagree with the approach that far too many people take (both LDS and conservative Christian) that the final word is out on this issue. As long as people think that way the same mistakes will continue to be made.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Worst I have read, May 12, 2011

By 

Gerald S. Argetsinger "Jerry" (Rochester, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Homosexuality and the Church of Jesus Christ (Hardcover)

Byrd's book is hands down the most superficial and misleading book I have ever read on the topic of homosexuality. He is either unable to understand the information on which he reports, or he is purposefully misrepresenting the work of many experts in the understanding of homosexuality. He seems to be intent upon taking advantage of naive family members who hope against hope that homosexuality can be cured. The results of this kind of pandering can only be damaging on the individual and on family relationships. Byrd has proven himself again and again to place his own personal agenda over that of the people he claims he desires to help.

13 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A note to Dr Byrd, July 22, 2005

By 

Shane Greenburg (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Homosexuality and the Church of Jesus Christ (Hardcover)

Dr Byrd,

Why do you continue to write these books that ignore every shred of evidence and fact? You know, as well as I do, that reparative therapy does not work, yet you still promote it. You know that homosexuals are happier in committed same-sex relationships, but you still denounce them.

How many more homosexuals have to take their own lives because of people such as yourself and your buddies at NARTH and LDS Social Services? How many more children and spouses have to suffer because of homosexuals being pressured into getting married to the opposite sex?

Please take a long hard look at what you are doing.

Sincerely,

Shane Greenburg (surviver of Evergreen, LDS Social Services and Exodus International)